Wind Turbines in the North: Schleswig-Holstein Takes the Lead
Reduced Approval of Wind Energy Plants in the Northern Region - Limited wind turbine approvals in the northern region
Lookin' at the numbers, the darn wind turbines in the North ain't messin' around! The Northernmost federal state, Schleswig-Holstein, needs fewer permits to keep spinnin' those blades, as they announced at the Windbranchentag in Husum. In 2024, they sealed the deal on 204 new expansions compared to last year's 241 installations, totaling a capacity of 1.1 gigawatts.
With a state-wide permit process that is faster than the nation's average, Schleswig-Holstein has been a prime location for wind power growth. While the national average duration of permit procedures stands at 23 months, Schleswig-Holstein gets the job done in a mere 18 months. "This speedy operation is a big reason for the rapid growth of wind power in Schleswig-Holstein," mentioned Energy Transition State Secretary, Joschka Knuth (Greens), when presenting the figures. The state pumps out almost 27.3 terawatt hours of green electricity annually.
Currently, there's a lineup of 348 wind turbines with nearly two gigawatts of capacity in the pipeline, with 489 further installations under construction or waiting to get the green light. The state ministry anticipates Schleswig-Holstein to reach its goal of 45 terawatt hours of land-based electricity generation by 2030.
"Now's the time to establish a reliable foundation for our energy transition endeavors together with the new federal government," said Knuth. To achieve this, federalessen needs to keep pushing forward and avoid any backwards steps.
"The establishment of temporary grid congestion areas that could slow the expansion of renewables is a dumb move," Knuth elaborated. Instead, there's a need for pace in grid expansion and local price signals - and the Renewable Energy Act needs to stay relevant for the future. Knuth underscored, "The industry requires early planning security to keep investin'."
Wind energy might just be the "it" thing for German power supply, according to the president of the Federal Association of Wind Energy, Baerbel Heidebroek. The industry is ready to work with the new feds to maintain the expansion at a steady pace, as wind energy guarantees an independent and cost-effective energy supply.
Schleswig-Holstein has long been a front-runner for wind power in Germany, often streamlining permits and project implementation thanks to high wind potential and political support for renewables. Although some southern and eastern states may still be grappling with overloaded permit authorities, bureaucracy, and grid capacity issues, Schleswig-Holstein focuses on shaking off those hurdles.
Now, it's time for the feds to get their torch in and keep playin' ball so wind power can keep growing!
- wind turbine
- permit
- Schleswig-Holstein
- BMU
- Husum
- gigawatt
- federal government
- energy transition
- electricity
Behind the Scenes
It turns out, Schleswig-Holstein's speedy permit procedures for wind turbines are one of the best in Germany, partly due to established infrastructure, political support, and adaptation of federal initiatives. Southern and eastern states may face longer delays due to factors like local opposition, complex environmental assessments, and less-developed administrative frameworks. The feds are actively aiming to harmonize and speed up permit procedures across all states, while Schleswig-Holstein continues to keep things moving.
- Schleswig-Holstein's rapid permit procedures for wind turbines, facilitated by established infrastructure, political support, and Federal initiatives, put it at the forefront of wind power development among German states.
- As wind energy becomes a significant contributor to Germany's power supply, the federal government's role in ensuring continuous expansion, particularly addressing grid congestion regions and streamlining permit procedures, is crucial.
- Schleswig-Holstein's successful wind power growth can serve as a model for other regions, as they navigate their challenges with local opposition, environmental assessments, and administrative complexities, to further contribute towards Germany's energy transition and renewable goals.
